The young adult's guide to Baltimore

Tag: Inner Harbor

It’s Thursday so we’re thinking out loud all about Light City Baltimore! Not from Baltimore or been living under a rock all week? Well to catch you up, Light City is a festival that has taken over Baltimore’s Inner Harbor (with ancillary exhibits in other neighborhoods) with light, art installations, musicians and performers.

The whole thing kicked off Monday evening with the Creative Alliance Lantern Parade. Jeanette and I made lanterns for volunteers to walk with during the parade and were eager to see them in action. However, when Monday night ended up a bit chilly and windy we decided to play it safe and try to watch the action from the warmth of the bar at the Royal Sonesta…

According to the Light City website, the parade was scheduled to kick off around 7pm so we settled in at the bar a little before 7, just in time to cash in on the end of happy hour and get discounted drinks and a couple of appetizers. The only problem? It was still super light out! The parade didn’t actually get underway until closer to 8pm which made a lot more sense for an event that centered around glowing lanterns against a dark sky. That was fine by us because it gave us plenty of time to catch up, have another drink and enjoy our honey wings and spinach and brie spread.

We both commented on how much we like the bar at the Sonesta: the ambiance is loungey with gorgeous views of the harbor, it’s super close to where we live, it’s usually not too crowded AND they have daily happy hour specials until 7pm. By the time it got dark and the parade started we realized we couldn’t actually see that much…oh well, we still had a fun night. #LightCityFail

Tuesday night Adam and I were celebrating our first wedding anniversary and walked to Harbor East for a special dinner. Our dinner ended up being a disaster(more to come on that in a separate port), but we enjoyed the late night walk back to our apartment. It was awesome to see the Harbor absolutely packed at 10pm on a week night and we loved seeing the various light displays and performances. I’m eager to see whether or not people view Light City as a success and what the economic impact ends up being. It certainly appeared that they were getting big crowds and that people were having very positive experiences.

We plan to check out more of the Light City offerings Friday night – including drinks and food from some of Baltimore’s best restaurants! Parts & Labor, Ekiben and Nickel Taphouse all have stands.

Have you been to Light City yet? What was your favorite part?

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For me, the Fourth of July in Baltimore is all about cornhole, barbecues and watching the fireworks from a rooftop deck. I love the views of the water, the cheersing between balconies and ESPECIALLY looking down at streets below, knowing that I’ve avoided the dreaded holiday traffic.

If you find yourself without a rooftop party this year, here are some of your best bets for places to celebrate in the city:

Fourth of July Celebration.7 to 10 p.m. The celebration at the Inner Harbor starts off with live music from the U.S. Navy Band Cruisers, followed by a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. Watch the fireworks from anywhere with a view of the harbor, including Fed Hill, Fell’s Point, Harbor East and Canton Waterfront Park. Inner Harbor, Baltimore. Free.

The Glorious Fourth…An Old-Fashioned Fourth of July! Noon to 4:30 p.m. Head to Fort McHenry for a patriotic walk through the national monument, complete with fife and drum music, cannon firing, a musket salute, and a reading of the Declaration of Independence. Fort McHenry, Baltimore. Admission fee is $7 for adults 16+.

Independence Day Celebration.6 to 10 p.m. The Baltimore Museum of Industry has a fab view of the Inner Harbor’s fireworks, and this event features food from Kooper’s Chowhound food truck, drinks, ice cream from the Miss Twist Truck and parking.You can also bring your own picnic. Baltimore Museum of Industry pavilion, Baltimore. $55 for advance tickets; $60 for day-of tickets; $7 per person for walk-ins at the gate. Discounts for BMI members.

Picnic at the Top! 7:30 to 10 p.m. Watch the fireworks–with a spectacular view–from the Top of the World Observation Level overlooking the Inner Harbor. Event includes food, nonalcoholic beverages, kids’ activities, a DJ and a photo booth. World Trade Center, Baltimore. $50 for adults; $25 for kids ages 3-12.

Baltimore July 4th Fireworks Dinner Cruise. 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. You might spend a bit more for this event, but you can’t beat the view OR the premium open bar + buffet. Dance the night away aboard this harbor cruise, then finish the evening with fireworks. Leaves from Inner Harbor, Baltimore. From $129/person.

AVAM’s July 4th: Visionary Pets on Parade! 10 a.m. The inspiration for this post’s photo, enter your pet in this parade to compete for tropies like Most Patriotic, Most Visionary, Owner/Pet Lookalikes, and Least Likely to Succeed as a Pet. If you thought it couldn’t get any better than that, stick around for a “Pet Talent (Or Not) Show” and a game of pet musical chairs. American Visionary Arts Museum, Baltimore. Free.

Rusty Scupper’s July 4th Crab Feast.Times based on your reservation. Another venue with a great view of the harbor, Rusty Scupper will host an all-you-can-eat buffet with #1 jumbo male crabs, shrimp and more. Be sure to make reservations in advance. Rusty Scupper, Baltimore. $99 for adults; $49 for kids 10 and younger.